Browsing: News

In a high-stakes press briefing, Uganda’s Electoral Commission Chairman, Justice Simon Byabakama, outlined the critical path to the 2025/26 general elections, issuing stern warnings against illegal youth militias and detailing strict deadlines for presidential and parliamentary aspirants. With SIG elections underway, unverified academic papers and failure to resign from public offices could end political dreams before they start. “The clock is ticking,” he warned, “and no one is above the law.” The road to 2026 is now paved with deadlines, scrutiny—and consequences.

Just a year after a garbage collapse killed dozens, the decommissioned Kiteezi landfill has burst into flames again—this time allegedly caused by youth burning wires for scrap. Residents say they’ve had enough of unkept promises, lax security, and toxic danger in their backyard.

They’ve held seats since the 1980s. But as Uganda prepares for the 2026 elections, iconic NRM figures like Kadaga, Kasaija, and Otafiire aren’t backing down. With youth rising and defectors joining the race, the NRM’s old guard is fighting to stay relevant—possibly for the last time.

KAMPALA — From school fires to fatal construction accidents, Uganda’s rising death toll at work has one common cause: a dangerous lack of education in occupational safety, health, and environment (OSHE). With 32.4% of Kampala construction workers injured on the job—and 70% of those on night shifts—experts warn that without integrating OSHE into the national curriculum, the country will continue to bury victims of preventable hazards.

Uganda’s public classrooms have gone silent—but it’s not a holiday. Humanities teachers across the country have launched a mass walkout, protesting years of unequal pay and broken promises. As science teachers enjoy salary raises of up to Shs 4 million, arts educators are still scraping by on less than a million. “We use the same chalk,” they say. “Why not the same respect?”

A landmark survey reveals what most Ugandans have long known: the struggle to survive outweighs political spin. With hunger topping household concerns and trust in government wearing thin, the nation stands at a tipping point.

When 23-year-old Wandukwa Merida joined a peaceful march to protect the Lwera Wetland, she didn’t expect to end up behind bars. But her stand against destructive sand mining and illegal rice farming landed her in prison—while the polluters still walk free. Her arrest has sparked outrage and reignited Uganda’s environmental justice movement. Is Uganda criminalizing climate defenders while turning a blind eye to environmental crimes?

Across Africa, food is rotting before it ever reaches the people who need it. Despite rising production, over 295 million Africans went hungry last year. Why? A powerful new World Bank report says the answer isn’t in the fields—it’s in the roads. From blocked border posts to collapsing ports, the continent’s fragile food supply chains are crumbling under the weight of neglect. “We’re not just losing food,” says the Bank’s Nicolas Peltier, “we’re losing lives.” The good news? With strategic investment and political will, this crisis is fixable—and millions of lives can be saved.

Over 30 million Ugandans still lack access to safe sanitation. But hope is rising. The Uganda Water and Sanitation Network (UWASNET), in partnership with key ministries, has unveiled national WASH Awards to spotlight those turning the tide—through tech, journalism, research, and community action.

KAMPALA — In an inspiring show of ingenuity and purpose, final-year students at Makerere University’s School of Engineering are crafting real-world solutions to Uganda’s toughest challenges. From solar-powered sprayers to oil-cleaning machines and smart cooking systems, these homegrown innovations are proving that Africa’s next big breakthroughs may not come from a boardroom—but from a university lab in Kampala.